How to Make a Pomeranian's Fur Soft

by Judith Willson

Chances are he won't stay that fluffy for long.

What might appear to be an animated fuzzball is still a dog and, like all the others, a Pomeranian needs toilet training, veterinary care, walks and, of course, grooming. This keeps his coat fluffy and healthy while preventing your furniture starting to look like your dog—Pomeranians shed constantly.

Assemble all the items you might need. For regular brushing, which he needs daily or every other day, collect a metal comb, a stiff-bristle brush, and a large slicker brush, not a small one. Although eye, ear and tooth care don’t affect his coat, you might want to do everything at once. If so, also collect cotton balls, an ear cleaning solution (optional), and a dog toothbrush and toothpaste.

Lift your dog onto a suitable item of furniture, whether a grooming table, a normal table or just the sofa. Grooming is going to take a while and it is awkward trying to brush a small dog who is sitting on the floor.

Run your hands through his coat to determine the whereabouts of any tangles.

Tease out tangled hair with the comb and your fingers before combing through the rest of his coat. Gently pull out any loose hair with your fingers. This won’t hurt, as the hair is coming out anyway; just don’t yank.

Brush his entire coat with the stiff-bristle brush. Brush first against the direction in which the hair lies and then with it to ensure that you brush all of his dense, double-layered coat. Use the slicker brush for tangled areas and when he is shedding.

Brush the hair up and out around his face and anywhere else you want him to look especially fluffy.

Bathe your Pomeranian about once a month. You can wash him in the shower, in the tub or in a baby bath. You could even give him a bath in the sink if it’s big enough. Use lukewarm water and a jug to rinse for the tub, sink or baby bath. In the shower, make sure the water is running lukewarm before you put him in. Hot water (even of the temperature you use yourself for bathing) will scald, and icy cold will shock.

Rub a dot of dog shampoo, ideally one for long-haired breeds, into his coat. Be very careful around his head, as you don’t want any going into his mouth, eyes or ears. Rinse out his coat and repeat using a much larger dollop of dog conditioner. You might want to use a good palmful. Work the conditioner into his coat, leave for a few minutes if you can (this might not be possible if he is impatient) and then rinse out completely.

Pick him up and wrap him in a towel. Put him on the floor, towel him thoroughly and allow him to shake if he wants to.

Comb through his fur to avoid the development of new tangles.

Dry his coat with the hair dryer to really bring out the fluffiness. Set it to its slowest, coolest setting and do not hold it too close to his skin. Use the comb or brush as required.

Items you will need

Metal comb

Stiff-bristle brush

Large slicker brush

Dog shampoo and conditioner

Plastic jug

Towels

Hairdryer

Tip

It takes many Pomeranians a while to become used to a hair dryer. Start by turning it on while he is in the same room and repeat daily over a period of several weeks, bringing the hair dryer a bit closer each time. Get him to associate the sound and sensation of the hair dryer with an enjoyable experience by providing treats and/or lots of petting each time. Some dogs, especially older dogs, will never tolerate a hair dryer. If this is the case with your Pomeranian, don’t push it. Just towel him dry after bathing and make sure he does not go outside until his coat is completely dry.

References

About the Author

Judith Willson has been writing since 2009, specializing in environmental and scientific topics. She has written content for school websites and worked for a Glasgow newspaper. Willson has a Master of Arts in English from the University of Aberdeen, Scotland.